Remanded Tahrir man shot dead in ‘gunfight’

College student Ghulam Faizullah Fahim, the only member of outlawed group Hizb ut-Tahrir found involved in an armed attack, was killed in an alleged gunfight with the law enforcers in Madaripur yesterday, the first day of his 10-day remand. Fahim was very desperate and determined not to give any information about his associates, planners and their dens, police said. “But he disclosed some names at some point of the interrogation. He said his associates were staying in Meherchor area and may meet after the Fazr prayers,” Sarowar Hossain, superintendent of police in Madaripur, told the Dhaka Tribune. “Our officials conducted a raid in the area around 7:30am with him, and sensing presence of the police, his associates opened fire on the police van and at one point tried to snatch Fahim from the vehicle. Police retaliated with gunshots. “Fahim and a constable were shot at that time. The accused later died at Sadar Hospital,” the SP said, adding that Fahim’s associates had managed to flee the scene. The law enforcers later recovered a pistol, three rounds of bullets and six bullet shells from the spot. Hospital sources said that Fahim was shot by a revolver bullet which pierced his chest, possibly because it was shot from a point-blank range. The law enforcers brought him to the hospital dead. On the other hand, the constable, Ali Hossain, is now undergoing treatment at the Police Lines Hospital. Kamrul Hasan, inspector of the district detective branch who lead the 20-member police team in the drive, claimed that the constable had received bullet injury. But while visiting the hospital these correspondents did not find any bullet injury on his left leg. He even refused to talk about the raid when asked. Three cases have been filed in connection with the gunfight against 20-25 unnamed persons. Police earlier said that Fahim and his associates were assisted by some local extremists to implement the attack. With this, at least five suspected leaders and members of different militant groups, mainly JMB, have been killed in alleged gunfights with the law enforcers since June 7. Fahim, 18, was caught by locals while fleeing after hacking Nazimuddin College teacher Ripon Chakrabarty, 45, at his house. His two other associates managed to escape. Later police filed a case against six persons including Fahim for the attack. The five other accused were named based on the information given by Fahim. Police, however, failed to arrest any of his associates or planners until yesterday. Fahim left his Dakkhinkhan house on June 11 in the middle of his HSC examinations after an altercation with his parents over his ideology and started staying at the group’s den. Police claim that Fahim had connection with JMB and Islami Chhatra Shibir, and that he was inspired in extremism by the activities of Islamic State. During interrogation, Fahim told the police that he had gone to Madaripur along with his two associates on the day of the attack and met a local lawyer to review the murder plan. After the gunfight, police yesterday said that he might have visited the town previously to finalise the murder plan. “We suspect that some locals are also involved with the militant group who used to keep an eye on the college teacher targeted,” the SP said, adding that they were conducting drives to nab the extremists. Asked whether the investigation would be hampered due to death of the only attacker detained, Sarowar said that they had already got some sensational information about the incident and Fahim’s associates. Emranur Rahman, medical officer at sadar hospital, told the Dhaka Tribune that the police brought bullet-hit Fahim around 7:45am but he had died before reaching the hospital. Visiting the hospital, the Dhaka Tribune correspondents found him handcuffed and the bullet hit on the left side of his chest. Morgue sources suspect that Fahim had been shot from point-blank range. The spot where the gunfight took place is 18km away from the town. Enayet Hossain, assistant sub-inspector of Shreenandi investigation centre, was found guarding the place along with four police officials. No sign of blood was found on and around the spot. Taking to the Dhaka Tribune, HSC student Shah Alam of Nazimuddin College, said that he had been working in the nearby filed at that time and heard sounds of five small crude bomb blasts, but no firing. When he tried to go to spot, he found the place surrounded by the law enforcers. Rozina Akther, another resident of the area, came up with a similar statement. The housewife said that that she had not seen anyone running away. Talking to reporters, Fahim’s father Golam Faruk said: “I was not sure about his ideology but he loved to read Islamic books. I came to Madaripur on Friday night just to see my son. “However, the police did not allow me to meet him and said that it will be dangerous for me to stay there.” But he had been given the scope to talk to Fahim over the phone.